Gas Station Cashier Fired for Pulling Gun on Man Armed With Knife — Is It Fair? [VIDEO, POLL]

Shannon Cothran was fired from his job working as a gas station cashier in Nashua, New Hampshire after he pulled a gun on a man who walked in armed with a knife and threatened him.

Surveillance video captured the scary incident, which took place last weekend.

After Cothran whipped out his gun, the suspect, who is still at-large, left the Shell station.

Cothran has a permit for the gun and kept it with him because of a recent string of robberies in the area.

He was fired for his actions because the company which owns the station has a policy barring employees from carrying weapons. Cothran says he knew the incident would cost him his job:

I knew exactly what I was doing I made a conscious choice to protect my life and put myself in a situation where I would have to find new employment.”

Police also said Cothran did nothing wrong, noting he did what he had to do to protect his life. As for losing his job, Cothran is keeping everything in perspective, saying, “I would rather find a new job than either be in a hospital bed or in a coffin.”

Nouria Energy Corporation, which owns the station, released a statement about Cothran’s actions, saying, in part, “We do respect the constitutional right to bear arms. However, we believe the best way to keep our employees and customers safe is to prohibit weapons in the workplace. Our training and policies are aligned with what is customary in the retail/conveniences store industries and is consistent with advice offered by security and police organizations.”